Thursday 14 January 2010 19.12 EST
First published on Thursday 14 January 2010 19.12 EST

Queens Park Rangers last night parted ways with Paul Hart after just five games in charge, according to reports. Strained ­dressing-room relations led to Hart ­becoming the sixth manager to be ­dismissed from Loftus Road since Flavio Briatore became chairman in late 2007.

The former Portsmouth manager was brought in on 17 December when Jim ­Magilton was sacked, also following a reported dressing-room bust-up. Mick Harford, Hart's assistant manager, is expected to step back into the breach for tomorrow's trip to Blackpool, according to the Daily Telegraph. The 50-year-old has previously been ­caretaker at ­Loftus Road after John ­Gregory was sacked in 2007.

Luigi De Canio holds the distinction of being the longest serving manager under Briatore's chairmanship. The Italian was in charge for 35 games, yielding just 12 wins, between late October 2007, when he took over from Harford's first stint as caretaker, and his exit in May 2008.

Hart's position at QPR is reported to have been undermined by a breakdown in relations with Adel Taarabt, a 20-year-old Moroccan midfielder on loan from ­Tottenham Hotspur, who has scored four goals this season.

Taarabt is said to have voiced his displeasure at having only started twice and made one further appearance as a substitute in Hart's five games as manager. Hart's reported demise at the hands of a dressing-room power struggle echoes that of his ­predecessor, Magilton, who left after a falling out with the midfielder Akos Buzsaky. The former Ipswich manager was in charge for 24 games between April and December last year.

QPR's record under Hart reads one win and two draws. His last game in charge saw QPR concede three goals in 70 minutes at home to Sheffield United in a 3-2 defeat to be eliminated in the FA Cup fourth round on Tuesday night. The club had let a lead slip for United to force the replay in their previous game. QPR sit in 10th in the Championship, four points on the play-offs, and have a goal difference of just two and a poor defensive record.

Hart is reported to have been appointed on a short-term basis until the end of the season and spent part of ­yesterday in discussions with his legal representatives to negotiate the terms of his departure. For Hart, the dismissal is his second departure from a managerial job following his exit from Portsmouth in November after 30 games in charge.